Research Service

Devon Archives and Local Studies Service does not currently offer its own genealogical, historical or property-related research service.

We do not offer a free look-up service; nor do we carry out searches into the contents of documents held here, as part of a fee-charging research service, with the following exception. We do undertake Data Protection or Freedom of Information-related research requests, and those involving research into records where public access is restricted – asylum, hospital, workhouse and Public Assistance Institution records. This specific type of research service incurs a fee based on time spent – see below.

We do offer the following types of search and copy services, Click on the links to read about each one:

If you require someone to carry out genealogical, historical or property-related research on your behalf, or need a to have a search made for specific documents within an uncatalogued collection held here, we can supply a list of local researchers and record agents who undertake such work in record offices or local studies collections in Devon. We can send this list by post or email attachment.

Data Protection and Freedom of Information requests

These are dealt with by a staff member of the Devon Archives and Local Studies Service. This service deals with enquiries which request access to medical patient records (including lunatic asylum patient records), and similarly restricted records less than 100 years old.

Transcription Service

Devon Archives and Local Studies Service also offers a limited service which provides transcriptions or abstracts of original documents. Orders are accepted only at the discretion of the Archives and Local Studies Manager.

Charges:

private research

£34.00 per hour

commercial research

£68.00 per hour

Please email details of your request to devrec@devon.gov.uk or write to us at Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7NL.

Prepayment or provision of card payment details is necessary before any research request is undertaken by Devon Archives and Local Studies Service. Please read about the choices in how to pay before making your request.

Private Researchers and Organisations offering Research Services

As already mentioned above, research on genealogical, historical or property-related topics and lengthy searches for documents in uncatalogued collections must be undertaken by private researchers, and we can supply a list of local researchers and record agents on request.

Research services and/or lists of local researchers are also offered by the following organisations:

Devon Family History Society

The society is run by volunteers, and maintains a list of researchers who are members of the society and who are willing to undertake work in the Devon Heritage Centre at Sowton, Exeter, as well as at the North Devon Record Office or Plymouth and West Devon Record Office.

For a list of researchers, please contact the society directly by post, telephone or email.

The Athenaeum staff can search any of the records held by the North Devon Athenaeum and Local Studies Centre, as well as those records held by the North Devon Record Office, so this service is especially suited to those with genealogical, historical or property-related research enquiries in North Devon parishes.